Find out how popular the last name Shaheen is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Shaheen.

Shaheen, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Shaheen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shaheen in America

Shaheen is the 9458th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shaheen surname appeared 3,440 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Shaheen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shaheen to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Shaheen

The surname Shaheen has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "shaheen," which means "falcon" or "peregrine falcon." This name is believed to have originated in the Middle East, particularly in regions with significant Arab influence, such as the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, and parts of Western Asia.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Shaheen can be traced back to the medieval period, around the 7th to 13th centuries. During this time, many Arab scholars, poets, and warriors adopted surnames or titles that reflected their personal attributes, occupations, or connections to nature.

One of the earliest known references to the name Shaheen can be found in the writings of the renowned Arab poet and philosopher Al-Mutanabbi, who lived from 915 to 965 AD. In his poetry, he frequently used the metaphor of the falcon to symbolize strength, courage, and nobility.

In the 12th century, the name Shaheen gained prominence during the Ayyubid Dynasty, which ruled parts of the Middle East, including Syria, Egypt, and Yemen. Several notable figures from this period bore the surname, such as Saladin's nephew, Shaheen Al-Din, who served as a military commander and governor.

As the Arab world expanded through conquests and trade, the surname Shaheen spread to various regions, including parts of Europe, South Asia, and North Africa. In the 14th century, records from the Ottoman Empire mention a Turkish-Arab poet and scholar named Shaheen Al-Hafez, who was celebrated for his literary works.

One of the most famous historical figures with the surname Shaheen was the 16th-century Ottoman Grand Vizier, Shaheen Pasha. He played a crucial role in the Ottoman Empire's military campaigns and was known for his strategic prowess and leadership.

In the 19th century, the Shaheen family gained prominence in the Arabian Peninsula, particularly in regions like Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Ahmed Shaheen, a renowned poet and scholar from Yemen, lived during this period and contributed significantly to the preservation of Arabic literature and culture.

As people migrated and settled in different parts of the world, the surname Shaheen became more widespread. Prominent individuals with this surname include Shaheen Sardar Ali, a Pakistani politician and former member of the National Assembly, and Shaheen Bagh, an Indian-American actress known for her roles in Bollywood films.

While the surname Shaheen has a rich history rooted in the Arab world, it has since been adopted by people of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds, reflecting the diversity and global reach of this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shaheen

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Shaheen.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Shaheen was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Shaheen has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Shaheen was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Shaheen, please contact us.

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